'I'VE ALWAYS TRIED TO BE A GOOD PERSON'

WITH HIS SHOW AFTER LIFE FOCUSING ON GRIEF, RICKY GERVAIS REFLECTS ON HELPING MANY OF US GET THROUGH SOME TOUGH TIMES

- EMMA COX

Love him or loathe him, there’s no denying controversial comedian Ricky Gervais is one of our most successful stars. After creating classic comedy The Office, the writer and actor went on to have TV hits with Derek and Extras, plus his stand-up tours have netted him millions of pounds.

His latest creation, After Life, now on its third series, has won him a whole new generation of fans and has been viewed 100 million times, according to Netflix.

Co-starring Kerry Godliman, it tells the touching story of widower Tony, who loses his wife Lisa to cancer and at first rages against the world in his grief before learning to let people in.

Here, Ricky, 60, who is in a long-term relationship with writer Jane Fallon, tells us why he’s always been the good guy – despite what people may think…

Hi, Ricky. The reaction to After Life has been phenomenal. How do you feel about the way it’s been received?

I’ve never had a reaction like it. People come up to me on the street more than ever before, saying, “I lost my wife, and it really helped me.” I’ve had grief therapists saying, “I show it in some of my sessions.” It just shows, it doesn’t matter what you talk about as long as you’re honest.